Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti will chair the task force, which is charged with finding efficiencies and encouraging streamlining of local government functions.

“Illinois leads the nation with nearly 7,000 units of local government,” Rauner said. “Many of these unnecessary layers of government are why hardworking families end up paying some of the highest property taxes in the nation.”

Task force members will be appointed by the Governor, and include representatives of units of local government, school districts, and the General Assembly from throughout Illinois.

The task force is required to submit its findings to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2015, upon which time it will be dissolved.

Governor Rauner was joined today by DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, whose ACT Initiative is saving DuPage County millions of dollars throughout the next 20 years.

“We need to lessen the burden of unfunded mandates imposed by the state on local governments while also encouraging streamlining of local government functions in order to save taxpayers money,” Rauner added.